DC Comics Presents #27 (November 1980)

Over the years, Superman has faced many a foe and menace in his never-ending battle against evil. One of those menaces was an intergalactic madman calling himself Mongul.

Mongul is a powerful alien being who dreams of universal domination. He was created by the late writer Len Wein and writer/artist Jim Starlin. Starlin is often seen as the main creator of Mongul...which makes sense. Beforehand, Starlin had been involved with the ascendence with the "cosmic" side of the Marvel Universe, writing the Captain Marvel book and creating Drax the Destroyer and Thanos. You may have heard of them. However, it was Wein who originally came up with the idea of Mongul, stating that he wanted to create a villain who would be able to match Superman physically. And considering that Superman in this point in time (The Bronze Age) was able to move planets, Mongul would have to be a physical powerhouse. 

Mongul would go on to be one of Superman's most significant foes, thanks to appearing in the Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons story For the Man Who Has Everything. The character would go on to appear in animated series, video games, and the animated film Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. 

The comic we're looking at here is Mongul's first appearance...well, in pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths canon, that is. Let's take a look at DC Comics Presents #27!

The cover is a Jim Starlin piece, and it's pretty cool. It depicts Superman clutching a tuning fork while standing over a defeated Martian Manhunter. Our debuting villain, Mongul, commands the Man of Steel hand over the tuning fork, which he refuses to do. It's an awesome cover, and it is true to the events of the comic. Which is something I can appreciate.

"The Key that Unlocked Chaos!"
Writer: Len Wein
Penciler: Jim Starlin
Inkers: Dick Giordano, Frank McLaughlin
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Letterer: Todd Klein
Editor: Julius Schwartz 
Executive Editor: Joe Orlando

The story begins with the Metropolis Marvel receiving a transmission from a mysterious pale yellow-skinned purple-wearing being. He introduces himself as Mongul, and he wants Superman to grab something for him. Something the alien believes rightfully belongs to him. Superman basically tells Mongul to buzz off, as he has better things to do than play errand boy. 

However, Mongul figured Superman would say that, so he prepared a bit of insurance.

"I tried to take Perry White too, but he was out that day. Rather inconvenient."

The extraterrestrial miscreant has captured three of Superman's co-workers at the Daily Planet: fellow reporter Lois Lane, photographer Jimmy Olsen, and sports reporter Steve Lombard. Superman confirms that Mongul has them by checking Metropolis with his telescopic vision, revealing they're nowhere in Metropolis. Mongul does the standard villain hostage spiel. He'll return the Man of Steel's comrades unharmed if Superman obtains a key made of crystal. This crystal key is locked up in a crypt. Uh, did somebody tell Mongul that the key in that whole "Stop 'n' Swop" thing from Banjo-Kazooie was an ice key?

Anyway, Mongul tells Superman that the crypt is located on the fifth planet in the Cygnus system. Presumably, it's a planet that orbits one of the stars that makes up the constellation. Superman realizes this planet is actually New Mars. First appearing in Adventure Comics #449 (February 1977), this was where the Green Martians resided after Mars's atmosphere was destroyed by Commander Benn Blanx in Justice League of America #71 (May 1969). That comic saw the Martian Manhunter leave the Justice League to help find his remaining people a new homeworld. As such, the Manhunter was not actively involved with the League throughout the 1970s and the early 1980s, the era League fans like to refer to as the "Satellite Era". He would return to active service with the League during the "Detroit Era". The Crisis on Infinite Earths would erase New Mars from canon, making J'onn the last Martian.

Right, right. Anyway, Superman heads out towards New Mars. He finds that he's being followed by a small gray sphere, presumably Mongul sent it to make sure the Man of Steel doesn't try anything funny. Superman knows that Mongul is clearly bad news, and he doesn't want this key as a conversation piece he can display on his mantle. As such, the Man of Tomorrow decides to play along so he can learn more about his mysterious new foe and find a way to free his friends and coworkers. 

Superman finds the crypt and finds it unlocked without any defenses.

Yup. 

"No, J'onn! I didn't see you playing with your dolls again!"

J'onn J'onzz wants Superman off this planet. You see, the crystal key that Mongul is after would allow him access to one of the most dreadful weapons in the universe. An artificial planet filled to the brim with weaponry, appropriately known...as Warworld. Warworld was built by an ancient alien race called the Warzoon.

"We liked to refer to them as Space Rednecks."

The Warzoon loved three things: War, Conquest...and Bacon Sandwiches. I think I may be wrong about the third thing. Anyway, they built Warworld so they can rain down more death and destruction. However, the Warzoon mysteriously died out before they could really use the thing. The last of the Warzoon would be found dead at the planet's controls by members of another alien race called the Largas.

Turned out the guy was just sleeping.

The Largas were a peaceful race, so peaceful that they could not bring themselves to destroy the planet. Instead, these wannabe Silver Surfers reprogrammed Warworld to use its defenses to keep people off it. The crystal key emits special sonic vibrations that would allow the holder to get past Warworld's defenses. Nobody knows why the Largas did this. Maybe they couldn't destroy it. Maybe they thought it could be used as a last-ditch weapon to save the universe.

The Largas were an ancient race, and they were dying out as well. The last of the Largas looked for a people to safeguard the crystal key and found the Martians. The Martians knew the horrors of war well, and they valued peace as a result. The last of the Largas gave the key to J'onn. Knowing it would be in good hands, the last surviving Largas was able to join the rest of his people in death. 

Superman empathizes with J'onn's position. But he decides to start being a dolt. He gets all "Dude, I'm Superman, I know what I'm doing!"

This triggers a brawl between the Manhunter from Mars and the Last Son of Krypton. J'onn J'onzz is a smart Martian, and he's prepared for this.

Those missiles have Kryptonite warheads on them. Superman deflects them with his super-breath. The Kryptonian and Martian continue their fight, and Superman ends it by creating a ring of fire with his heat vision, taking advantage of the Martian's weakness towards fire. 

"POW! Right in the green kisser!"

The Man of Steel obtains the crystal key and is visited by a giant spaceship. Mongul arrives to take the key. Superman decided to not hand over the key, even if it means the death of his friends. The tyrant then starts to crush Superman's friends in their cube prison, but the device on his chest that controls it somehow gets wrecked, freeing them.

"Blasted cheap Durlan containment cubes!"

Mongul blasts Superman, making him drop the key. But it was actually the Martian Manhunter, using his power of invisibility. J'onn tries to stop Mongul from taking the key, but the big brute is able to smack him away, and then teleports off with the key in hand. J'onn gives Superman a dressing down for all of this, as he felt Supes's overconfidence that he could handle Mongul let this happen. Superman vows to get the crystal key back, and he's going to get some "super help" to make that happen.

Honestly, I'm kind of mixed on this particular comic. It's an action-packed issue, but the problem is, it's a bit of what TV Tropes would call an idiot plot. I mean, the Martian Manhunter is a telepath. Why couldn't he sense what Superman is doing? I can imagine the two of them telepathically working out a plan to fool Mongul to try and keep him from getting the crystal key. He can still make it off with the end by a stroke of bad luck. That's basically my main complaint.

I know Jim Starlin more as a writer than an artist personally, so seeing him do art duties on a comic was surprising to me. And I think it's pretty good. I especially like his interpretation of Mongul. His take on him makes him look very brutish, and the way he rendered his eyes radiates evil. Shaded in black, with red spots. Really nice. He looks like an evil brute with a hidden intelligence.

If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2013 trade paperback Superman vs. Mongul. It collects Mongul's pre-Crisis appearances, and includes For the Man Who Has Everything. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get vaccinated and boosted! See you next time!